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12th New
Hampshire Regiment Infantry

Regimental History

Twelfth Infantry.  Cols., Joseph H. Potter, Thomas E. Barker;
Lieut.-Cols., John F. Marsh, George D. Savage, Thomas E. Barker, Nathaniel Shackford;
Majs., George D. Savage, John F. Langley, Nathaniel Shackford, Edwin E. Bedee. The 12th,
from the state at large, was mustered in for three years at Concord, Aug. 28 to Sept. 25,
1862. The original members were mustered out June 21, 1865, at Richmond and Manchester,
Va., and the recruits were transferred to the 2nd N. H. infantry the same day. There were
1,019 original members and 444 recruits, in all 1,463. Of these 180 were killed or died of
wounds and 146 died from other causes. The 12th left "Camp Belknap" Sept. 27,
1862, for Washington, where it was assigned to the Army of the Potomac and was first under
fire at Fredericksburg, Dec. 12-15, 1862. The regiment spent the winter at Falmouth, Va.,
and in May, 1863, was in the battle of Chancellorsville, where it suffered heavy losses.
At Gettysburg its loss was again fearful. In the pursuit of Gen. Lee the regiment reached
Warrenton, Va., when it was ordered to Point Lookout, Md., and was on duty there until the
spring of 1864. In April it was assigned to the Army of the James and took part in the
battles of Swift creek, Relay house, Drewry's bluff, and Port Walthall Junction. On June 1
it joined the Army of the Potomac at Cold Harbor and was actively engaged in that battle.
Leaving Cold Harbor on the 11th, it reached Petersburg on the 15th, where it was
constantly on duty until Aug. 25. The winter of 1864-65 was spent at Bermuda Hundred,
Chaffin's farm, and in the vicinity of Fort Harrison. On the memorable Apr. 3, 1865, it
entered Richmond and after a time spent at Danville, Va., was mustered out at Richmond.

Footnotes:Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 1